Deep well pump motor



' Se t; 23, 1941. L. R 'II'HRASHER 2,256,659

DEEP WELL PUMP MOTOR Filed June 2'5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L 7702257: or

. Sept. 23, 1941.

L. R. I'HRASHER D'EEP WELL PUMP MOTOR Filed June 25, 1940 A2 L r 7 i A J J 4 I Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

an electric driving motor in which the arma-' ture encircles and rotates about the field coils, with a novel means for suspending the rotating field coil unit which carries impeller blades for efiecting the movement of fluid upwardly through the discharge pipe of the pumping mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a deep wellpumping structure in which the various parts of the driving electric motor are completely shielded against the entrance of moisture or other undesirable substances and in which a novel means is employed for equalizing the pres sures inside and outside of the motor housing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a rotary deep well pump, a novel means for supplying lubricant to the moving parts of the enclosed and sealed driving motor structure.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified'so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a well casing and a fluid discharge column and housing '-'and well casing.

Fig.3isatransverse sectiononthelineI-I of Fig. 2, showing the tip of the pumping unit headremoved.

'pump housing therein, showing the motor unit Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-- of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I generally designates the well casing within which the present pumping structure together with its enclosing housing and the fluid discharge pipe or column, is disposed.

The fluid discharge pipe or column which is letdown into the casing and to which the pumping unit is connected, is indicated by the numeral 2 and to the lower end of this column is at tached, by means of a spider ring I, the tubular pump housing 4, which is divided into a number of units or sections which are indicated by the numerals 4, 4 and 4. These sections are threadably coupled together as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so as to form the complete tubular housing and the lower end of the lower portion or portion 4 is provided with an annular series of apertures 5 for the admission of fluid from the outer side of the housing.

The actual pumping unit is indicated as a whole by the numeral 6 and comprises an elongated body of circular cross-section, which is disposed within the housing 4 and coaxially therewith. Forming a part of this unit is a stationary head which is secured to the spider ring 3 and which is indicated generally by the numeral I. This head is of bullet-shape and has a tip portion 1' and a skirt portion l The skirt portion is integral with the spider ring I while the tip or point 1* is removably attached thereto. Tne head I is hollow and has within the skirt portion the horizontal wall I which supports a thrust bearing unit comprising a fixed ball race or ring 9 and the central rotatable race II which is centrally supported by the fixed race 8 through the medium of balls II. This bearing is mounted upon the bottom or wall 8 of the unit head.

The rotatable central portion or ball race portion ll of the hearing has extended axially therethrough a rotary stub shalt ll which is secured in position by means of the nut II. The lower end of this shaft "is integral with a belllike cap II which is suspended beneath the fixed head I for rotation with the shaft. This cap N forms the top of the hanging cylindrical motor casing, which is indicated generally by the nu meral II and which comprises, in addition to th cap M, the upper portion il and the lower ot skirt portion ll.

The upper portion l5 of the motor casing is joined to the cap l4 by an exteriorly threaded cupped ring l6 which supports a, bearing unit consisting of the inner and outer rings l1 and 18, respectively, the outer ring being secured to the cupped ring to turn therewith.

The portions l5 and I5 of the motor casing are coupled together by a lower cupped ring l9 which is exteriorly threaded, as shown, and which carries the inner and outer relatively rotatable portions or races 20 and 2|, respectively, of a lower bearing unit.

The lower or skirt portion 15 of the motor casing is open, as shown in Fig. 2, but inwardly of its open lower end, it is provided with the upwardly tapering dome-like partition wall 22 at the apex of which is an aperture encircled by a heavy duty oil retainer or packing 23 for the purpose hereinafter described. There is thus formed in the upper part of the skirt portion l of the motor casing by the domelike wall 22, an annular receptacle 24 in which oil is placed. The top of this oil receptacle is closed by the lower cupped ring 19 and the bearing unit which it carries.

Threadably secured in the lower end of the lower portion 4 of the pump housing is a bottom spider ring 25 having a central body portion 26 provided with .the axial passage 21. Upon the top of ,this body there extends upwardly in encircling relation with the aperture 21, the sleeve 28 and adjacent the periphery of the body is formed the upstanding exterior' threaded flange 29. Engaging over and encircling the flange 29 is an upstanding shell 30 which is threadably joined with the flange, as shown, and which extends upwardly into the skirt portion 15 of the motor casing and into the domed partition 22, the upper end of the shell being tapered to substantially conform to the former the wall 22, as shown. Between the shell and the wall 22 is an air space 3| into which air enters 'from beneath the lower edge of the skirt portion I5 for thepurpose hereinafter to be described.

The shell 30 forms with the fixed portion 26 of the bottom spider, an oil receptacle in the lower part pf which the body of oil 32 is placed.

Extending inwardly and downwardly from the wall of the shell 30 is a plurality of fluid admission tubes 33, the lower ends of which are submerged'in the oil pool 32.

- The numeral 34 designates a fixed shaft which extends upwardly from the lower spider ring 25, passing through the aperture 21 and the sleeve 28 and through the central part of the shell 30, through the heavy duty oil retainer 23 and the inner races 20 and I1, respectively, of the lower and upper bearing units which are enclosed'within the motor housing. This fixed shaft is secured to the body 26 of the lower spider ring so that it will be held against rotation and it is likewise secured to the inner race members 20 and I1 through which it passes.

The fixed shaft 34 is tubular through substantially the lower half of its length, as indicated at 35, and the upper end of the tube is located within the area between the upper and lower cupped rings 15 and :9.

Within the area or space between the cupped rings 16 and 19 are enclosed the stator and rotor windings 36 and 31, respectively, of an electric motor.

The tubular portion of the fixed shaft serves as a. conduit for an electric current carrying cable 38 which is run down the outside of the housing 4 and brought in through the lower end of the fixed shaft beneath the lower spider ring 25. Passing upwardly through the tube 35 the cable is carried beyond the lower cupped ring 19 and into the space beneath the stator and rotor windings of the motor where it is connected with the brushes 39 which have contact with current pick-up segments 40 carried by the motor casing, the brushes 39 and segments 40 constituting the commutator by which the'current is conducted to the motor armature.

' Lubricant is supplied to the upper bearing for the pump unit in a suitable manner as by the provision of a pipe line 4| which may be run down through the well casing and extended in through the housing and through the stationary part of the head ,1, as shown in Fig. 2. For the lubrication of the upper and lower motor-bearings which are carried by the rings "5 and I9 there are provided the oil conducting tubes 42 and 43. These tubes are run along the upper part of the fixed shaft 34 between the same and the motor stator 36 and the tube 42 extends upwardly into the cap 14 as shown in Fig. 2, while at its lower end it passes downwardly to the under side of the bearing supporting ring l9 and into the oil contained in the receptacle 24. The lower end of the tube 42 is curved to extend circumferentially within the oil receptacle and the end of the tube is directed oppositely to the direction of rotation of the motor casing. By this means as the motor casing rotates, it will carry with it the body of oil within the receptacle 24 and move the oil against the open end of the tube 42, thereby forcing the oil into and upwardly through the. tube for discharge into the cap' l4. The oil dischargin into the cap will flow down between the elements l1 and I8 of the bearing and enter the upper end of the return tube 43 by which it will be conveyed downwardly to and discharged over the two elements of the lower motor bearing unit which are supported by the ring l9. After passing between the parts 20 and 2| of the lower motor' bearing, the oilre't'ums to the receptacle 24 for re-circulation.

Extending from the upper part of the interior of the shell 30 through the tube 35 and into the space above the ring l9 and below the motor is an air transfer tube 44, the purpose of which is about to be described.

Secured in spiral order around the outside of the motor casing upon the portion l5 thereof, is a series of propeller blades or'fins' 45. These arearranged so that as the motor casing is rotated, fluid into which the motor casing is submerged, will be driven upwardly through the ring 3 and into the discharge pipe or column 2. To facilitate this action, there are provided upon the inner surface of the housing 4, the spirally directed stationary blades 46 between which the rotating or impeller blades '45 are located. It is preferred that each of the three sections'of the pump housing carry one or more of these stationary ,flns. By providing the pump housing in sections as illustrated, its assembly around the motor casing is facilitated.

In the operation of the present deep well pump, it will be, of course, obvious that when electric current is supplied through the conductor cable 38, the casing with the attached blades 45 will be rotated from the suspension shaftv 12 with which it is connected. The skirt portion I 5 V 2,258,659 of the casing will turn around the fixed chamber 30. The pump unit is, of course, lowered into the fluid which is to be pumped, such as oil, water or the like, and as the pump unit is lowered together with the housing in which it is suspended, some of the fluid will pass upwardly between the skirt portion I and the shell 30. This will trap air in the space it and thus provide a buoyant bearing and centering means for the lower part of the motor casing. Some of the fluid will also enter the tubes 33 and flow downwardly into the oil well, causing the oil to be raised in the shell and thereby forcing the air from the upper part of the shell through the pipe 44 into the chamber or space in which the motor is located. By this means, the air pressure within the motor space or chamber will be equalized with that outside of the motorcasing as the casing is lowered in the water or other well fluid.

As previously stated, as the motor operates to turn the casing 6, the body of oil within the receptacle 24 will also turn and be forced against and into the open end of the tube 42. By thisv means, the oil will be forced to flow to the bearings for the motor.

In order that oil may be supplied to the receptacle 24, the pipe ll may be continued down From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that with the construction herein disclosed, the various bearings for the pumping unit are completely housed and protected against the entrance of grit or other material which would interfere with their proper operation and also it will be apparent that there has been provided a novel means for supporting the rotating portion of the pumping unit in such manner as to cooperate with the-bearings to provide for smooth operation with a minimum of friction, this lastmentioned means being the air cushion which is provided by the trapping of air in the cham What is claimed is:

1. A submersible motor of the character stated, comprising a tubular-housing, a head secured in the upper end of said housing in spaced relation with the wall ofthe housing, said head being hollow, a bearing within the hollow head having 'a central rotatable element, an elongated cylindrical motor casing within the housing which is closed at its upper and lower ends, a shaft extending from the upper end of the casing axially thereof into and secured to the central element of said bearing, an electric motor within the easing including a fixed part and a movable part, said movable part being secured to the casing, a fixed shaft extending axially through the casing and secured at its lower end to said housing. the upper end of the shaft terminating within the casing and supporting the fixed part of the motor, means for conducting electric current to the motor, and means providing a buoyant. support for said motor casing when the same is submerged in a fluid.

2. A submersible motor of the character stated,

comprising a tubular housing, a head secured in the upper end of said housing, in spaced relation with the wall of the housing, said head being hollow, a bearing within the hollow head having a central rotatable element, an elongated cylindrical motor casing within the housingwhich is closed at its upper and lower ends, a shaft extending from the upper end of the casing axially thereof into and secured to the central element of said bearing, an electric motor within the casing including a fixed part and a movable part, said movable part being secured to the casing, a fixed shaft extending vertically through the casing and secured at its lower end to said housing, the upper end of the shaft terminating within the casing and supporting the fixed part of the motor, means for conducting electric current to the motor, said motor casing being formed at its lower end to provide a downwardly opening chamber in which air is trapped upon the lowering of the motor into a fiuid, to provide a buoyant support around said fixed shaft for the motor casing.

3. A submersible motor of the character stated, comprising a motor unit housing, a motor unit within the housing, comprising an elongated cylindrical easing, means closing the upper end of said casing, a shaft forming an integral part of said means, means coupling said shaft with the upper end of the housing facilitating rotation of the motor casing in the housing, said motor casing being interiorly divided to form a motor chamber and an oil receptacle, a fixed shaft extending axially through the motor casing from the lower end thereof and terminating in the upper part of the upper chamber, means coupling the lower end of the fixed shaft with the motor housing, an electric motor in the motor chamber including a fixed part secured to the fixed shaft and a movable part secured to the casing, bearings coupling the fixed shaft above and below the motor with the motor casing, said lower chamber forming an oil receptacle, and

means for effecting a forced distribution of oil from the oil receptacle to said bearings upon rotation of the motor casing.

4. A submersible motor of the character stated. comprising a vertical housing, a spider ring secured in the lower end of the housing, a unit within the housing including a fixed head and a tubular casing, said head being secured to the upper end of the housing and the casing being disposed between the head and the spider unit, said casing having a partition wall transversely thereof inwardly of its lower end forming a downwardly opening air trapping chamber, the

upper end of the casing being closed, means connecting the upper end of the casing with said head facilitating turning of the casing on its long axis, a shaft secured at one end to said spider and extending upwardly through said partition wall and into the casing and terminating in the upper part of the latter, an electric motor within the casing above said wall and having a stator secured to the shaft and a rotor secured to the casing, means for conducting electric current to said electric motor, the lower part of the casing between the motor and said partition wall forming an oil receptacle, bearing means between the shaft and the casing, and means for effecting a forced flow of oil from said receptacle to said bearing means.

5. A submersible motor of the character stated, comprising -a vertical housing, a spider ring secured in the lower part of the housing; a spider ring in the upper part of the housing, a unit within the housing, comprising a fixed head secured to the upper spider ring and an elongated casing, a cap closing the upper end of the elongated casing, a stub shaft rota-tably coupling the cap with said head, a domed partition wall in the lower part of the casing inwardly of the lower end thereof forming a downwardly opening cuplike chamber, a fixed shaft secured at one end to the first spider and extending upwardly through the partition wall into and terminating within the upper part of the casing, bearings coupling the fixed shaft with the wall of the casing, an electric motor between said bearings and having a stator secured to the fixed shaft and a rotor secured to the casing, a hollow body supported upon the first spider and extending into said cup-like chamber and having spaced relation with the wall of the latter to form an air space, said shell forming an oil receptacle, fiuid tubes leading from the wall of the shell into the bottom part thereof from said air space, a tube leading from within the shell intothe casing, and means for conducting electric current to said motor.

6. A submersible motor of the character stated, comprising an elongated vertical housing, a spider ring secured in the upper end of the housing, a unit extending longitudinally within the housing and including a head, said head.comprising a body of substantially bullet-shape having a lower skirt portion fixed in said ring and a removable tip portion. the interior of the head being hollow, a thrust bearing enclosed within the head and having a central rotatable portion, an elongated cylindrical casing constituting another portion of the unit, a cap forming a removable closure element for the upper end of the cylindrical casing and having an axially extending integral shaft, said shaft extending upwardly into the rotatable portion of said bearing, a ring member secured in the lower part of the housing and having a central apertured portion, the lower end of the casing terminating adjacent the lower ring, a, fixed shaft secured at its lower d to the -lower ring and extending axially hrough said casing and terminating within the same adjacent the cap, a pair of spaced bearing units coupling the fixed shaft with the casing, an electric motor within the casing between said bearing units and including a stator secured to the first shaft and a rotor secured to the casing, 4

means for conducting electric current to said motor, means forming an oil receptacle in the lower part of the casing, and an oil conducting tube.

secured to the fixed shaft and extending into the oil receptacle and constructed and arranged to pick .up oil upon rotation of the casing and convey the same to said spaced bearings.

7. A submersible-motor of the character stated, comprising an elongated vertical housing, a spider ring secured in the upper end of the housing, a

unit extending longitudinally within the housing and including a head, said head comprising a body of substantially bullet-shape having a lower skirt-portion fixed in said ring and a removable tip portion, the interior of the head being hollow, a thrust bearing enclosed within the head and having a central rotatable portion, an elongated cylindrical casing constituting another portion of the unit, a cap forming a removable closure element for the upper end of the cylindrical casing and having an axially extending integral shaft, said shaft extending upwardly into the rotatable portion of said bearing, a ring member secured in the lower part'of the housing and having a central apertured portion, the lower end of the casing terminating adjacent the lower ring, a fixed shaft secured at its lower end to the lower ring and extending axially through said casing and terminating within the same adjacent the cap, a pair of spaced bearing units coupling the fixed shaft with the casing, an electric motor within the casing between said bearing units and including a stator secured to the first shaft and a rotor secured to the casing, means for conducting electric current to said motor, means forming an oil receptacle in the lower part of the casing, an oil conducting tube secured to the fixed shaft and extending into the oil receptacle and constructed and arranged to pick up oil upon rotation of the casing and convey the same to said spaced bearings, and said casing being formed below said oil receptacle forming means to provide a downwardly opening chamber in which air is trapped upon submerging the motor in a fluid to form a buoyant support for the casing.

LEO R. 'IfI-IRASHER. 

